Emir Sanusi, Kano Religious Leaders Intensify Campaign Against Sickle Cell Disease, Push for Mandatory Genotype Screening

The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, has reaffirmed his commitment to intensifying public awareness campaigns against sickle cell disease in Kano State, pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of the inherited disorder.

Religious leaders across Kano State also pledged their support for the fight against sickle cell disease, calling for increased awareness, premarital genotype screening, and stronger collaboration between faith-based institutions and health organisations.

The commitments were made during a one-day advocacy seminar organised to commemorate the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day, held on June 18 in Kano. The event, themed “Faith-Based Advocacy for Sickle Cell Prevention and Genotype Awareness in Kano State,” brought together Muslim and Christian clerics from various denominations.

The seminar focused on the critical role of faith-based organisations in preventing sickle cell disease through public education, premarital counselling, and genotype testing before marriage.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano State chapter, represented by Rev. Bitrus Nuhu, described sickle cell disease as a serious inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in the HBB gene, resulting in abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells that obstruct blood flow and lead to severe health complications.

He said the disease remains a major burden on families, communities, and the nation, stressing the importance of medical screening for intending couples before marriage.

Rev. Nuhu also advocated subsidised treatment for people living with sickle cell disease and called for stronger partnerships with health organisations to expand awareness and outreach programmes across the state.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalid, described sickle cell disease as a major public health challenge with enormous financial implications for affected families.

He urged authorities and religious institutions to make comprehensive premarital health screening—including genotype, HIV, hepatitis, and other relevant tests—a mandatory requirement before marriage.

In her welcome address, the National Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Annette Akinsete, explained that sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders affecting haemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.

She noted that while healthy red blood cells are flexible and disc-shaped, those affected by sickle cell disease become rigid and sickle-shaped due to a genetic mutation, restricting blood flow and causing painful complications.

Dr. Akinsete said Nigeria carries the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally, with thousands of families facing emotional, social, and financial hardship as a result of the condition.

According to her, sustained public awareness and compulsory genotype testing for intending couples remain the most effective strategies for reducing the prevalence of the disease.

She therefore appealed to religious leaders to make genotype testing a prerequisite for conducting marriage ceremonies in churches and mosques.

Represented by High Chief Lamido Abubakar Bayero, the Emir of Kano reaffirmed his unwavering support for programmes that promote the health and well-being of the people of Kano and Nigerians at large.

The royal father described the Emir as a strong advocate for policies and initiatives that improve the quality of life of citizens.

He added that the Kano Emirate has already engaged district heads on the importance of accurate community health data collection, including records of pregnancies and births, as part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare planning and disease prevention across the state.